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| Monday, 3 January 2005 |
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by Sarath Malalasekera Senior and junior staff of the Customs have been told to be vigilant of unscrupulous persons attempting to produce forged documents to clear goods imported for their own use. Customs Preventive Director M. H. R. Tissera heading a special unit for expeditious clearance of tsunami relief consignments arriving from overseas, said there might be people who use this opportunity for their benefit. He said relief consignments arriving from overseas will be totally exempted from import duties and to facilitate the clearance of the goods coming via air and sea cargo, several relief measures are being implemented for an indefinite period. Customs Deputy Director Tharaka Seneviratne of the Air Cargo section is assisting Tissera in the Special Customs unit on the fifth floor of the Times Building, Fort, Colombo. More details could be obtained from Tissera on 071-3006661, 071-3006662, 071-3006664, 071-3006665 or 2446362. The unit is open 24 hours, the Director added. Several categories of goods will be allowed clearance free of Import Duty, VAT, Ports and Airport Development levy and from other taxes without specific approval or recommendation of any Government Authority, Tissera said. The goods are medical supplies brought into the country by foreign delegates and NGO members to provide relief for disaster victims; any relief related essential supplies received or imported by UN Agencies, Diplomatic Missions, International Red Cross and similar International Organisations; and medical supplies consigned to SriLankan airlines on condition that the items will be handed over to the Director General of Health Services. Any medical supplies or any items sent for disaster relief consigned to the Secretary to the President, Secretary to Prime Minister, Secretary, Ministry of Healthcare Nutrition and Uva Wellassa Development, Director Social Services, CEO of Human Disaster Management Unit, SriLankan airlines and any other Government Agency are also allowed free clearing. Treasury Deputy Secretary S. Abeysinghe has requested to transmit particulars of items allowed free of duties and taxes under this arrangement using the format available to him (Deputy Secretary) and other relevant parties on fax numbers on a daily basis. The fax numbers are - DST (SA) 2327526, DG (FP) 2333482, S/Social Services 2877677, Director Social Services 2824056 and Director General Health Services 2693869. Sri Lanka Port Authority, Aviation Authority and SriLankan airlines are assisting the Customs in this Special Unit, Tissera said. |
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